The OATS Procedure
(Osteochondral Autograft Transfer System)
The OATS procedure, an abbreviation for osteochondral autograft transfer system, is a surgical procedure used to treat focal cartilage defects less then 2 centimeters in size. OATS is one technique of several used to treat this problem; the type of procedure is called a mosaicplasty.
This technique which was developed more a decade ago can restore the height and the shape of the articulating surface in focal osteochondral defects, with composite autologous material that contains all necessary ingredients: hyaline articular cartilage, intact tidemark and a firm bone carrier.
This procedure uses cartilage from undamaged areas of the joint not on a weight-bearing surface and moves this cartilage to a damaged area. This type of procedure is only useful for the treatment of focal cartilage damage. This procedure is only used for isolated areas of cartilage damage and usually limited to 10-20 mm in size. If the cartilage lesion is greater then 2 centimeters in size then the patient may be a candidate for autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI).
These types of cartilage lesions are typically in younger patients (under 50 years of age) who have experienced a trauma to their joints. This is not a surgical option for treating arthritis.
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